California ethics panel fines CalPERS board member

SACRAMENTO, Calif. 
California's ethics panel fined a board member at the state's embattled public pension fund $4,000 for failing to file her annual economic disclosures on time.

The Fair Political Practices Commission fined Priya Mathur on Thursday for filing her 2008 statement of economic interest document late, a month after she was fined $3,000 for the same issue with her 2007 form.

The economic interest forms are required to show whether officials are receiving inappropriate gifts that may influence their decisions.

"Ms. Mathur made an error in judgment by not filing timely reports, however there was nothing fraudulent as she had nothing to report," said Rob Feckner, president of the CalPERS board. "That being said, the board is committed to transparency, ethics and accountability at all levels."

Mathur was also fined $6,000 in 2006 for failing to file the same economic interest form and campaign statements listing donations for her election to the CalPERS board.

Roman Porter, executive director for the FPPC, said Mathur has since paid the $6,000 fine and filed the forms. Mathur's 2009 SEI form was received on time.

The fines come as CalPERS faces scrutiny over former board members who are now being sued by the state for improper gifts and kickbacks.

A civil lawsuit filed by Attorney General Jerry Brown alleges that Alfred Villalobos, a former CalPERS board member, operated without a license and set up a system of gifts to CalPERS that included extensive travel, a promise of a lucrative job and a Lake Tahoe condominium. Villalobos has denied the charges.

CalPERS did not immediately respond when asked whether Mathur would face any consequences, such as removal from the board. Spokesman Brad Pacheco said that as far as he knows, all other board members are up to date with their SEI forms.

Porter declined to comment on whether Mather's violations were unusual.

"I think the record stands for itself," Porter said. "In each case, the commission assessed the fine that they thought was the appropriate penalty."